Drip tray



Feb. 20, 1951 v. E. LAUFENBERG 2,542,337

DRI P TRAY Filed May 28, 1948 WIN VET 2/ E Lamp/22715121 0 Patented Feb. 20, 1951 DRIP TRAY Virgil Laufenberg, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Lauienberg, 1110., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May "28, 1948, SerialNo. 29,880

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for catching condensate dripping from the water tank of a flush toilet to preclude the nuisance of wet floors ordinarily resulting therefrom. Such devices are generally known as drip trays and an example thereof is illustrated in Patent No. 1,863,211 issued to E. J. Wimmer.

The securement of these drip trays in proper position beneath the water tank has always presented a problem and while the adjustable clamp of the aforesaid Wimmer patent and other similar clamping devices SLlfilCG for most installati'ons, such clamps are difficult to install and do not encourage periodic removal of the tray for cleaning.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved and simplified manner of fastening a drip tray under the water tank of a flush toilet.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a spring-like bracket adapted to embrace the discharge 'pipe which projects from the bottom of the tank and to have spring maintained interengagement with portions of the tray, the parts being so arranged and disposed that upon such interengagement with the tray the 'spring bracket firmly grips the discharge pipe and the tray is firmly but readily removably held in position.

With theabove and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view illustrating a portion of a flush toilet and showing the application of this invention thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the supporting bracket per se illustrating its relation to the adjacent portion of the drip tray by means of a dotted line showing of part of the tray; and

Figure 3 is a side view of the supporting bracket per se illustrating a slightl modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing the numeral 5 designates the water tank of a flush toilet which as is customary has supply and discharge pipes 6 and 1 respectively projecting from the bottom thereof. The discharge -pipe leads to the toilet bowl 8 and the supply pipe is, of course, connected to the plumbing of the building to supply the tank with water.

As is well known in warm weather the moisture in the air condenses upon the cold walls of the tank 5 an'dconstantly drips therefrom onto the floor. To obviate this obvious nuisance a pan-like drip tray 9 is positioned beneath the tank 5 and the condensate accumulated therein is carried oil through a small hose iii to be discharged into the toilet bowl. Such condensate collecting trays are in themselves not new, the aforesaid patent to Wimmer being an example thereof.

As shown in detail in said Wimmer patent, the tray has recesses or throats opening to the rear edge thereof to accommodate the supply and discharge pipes but inasmuch as the present inven tion is not concerned with the specific structure of the pan per se only one of these throats, in-

dicated by the numeral ii, is illustrated, this being the larger of the two throats and being the one which accommodates the discharge pipe it.

To collect the condensate accumulating in the tray the edges of the throats which accommodate the supply and discharge pipes as well as all other edges of the tray have upwardly directed flanges l2, and to assure maximum coverage of the underside of the tank the recesses or throats (I l) have parallel side edges, the width of each recess being just large enough to receive the pipe which it is to accommodate.

In accordance with the present invention the tray 9 is supported in position b a bracket indicated generally by the numeral l3 and which comprises a length of Spring band stock formed to'provide a loop l4 medially of its ends. The end portions of the band are bent into abruptly outwardly diverging portions !5 and extremitie 16 which, though somewhat divergent when free, are substantially parallel when the bracket is in position supporting the tray.

Extending upwardly from each extremity I6 is a hook-like connecting member H, the upper portion of which is formed into a channel It. If desired the members l! may be an integral part of the extremities l6 but preferably they are spotwelded thereto, thus permitting the entire bracket to be formed of ordinary band stock.

The loop I4 is of a size to embrace the discharge pipe over which it is easily snapped, and when so positioned the end portions of the band gaged over the edges of the recess or throat which accommodates the discharge. pipe. Such interengagement not only tighten the loop about the discharge pipe but because of the tension un der which the band is placed the channel'por-v tions l8 are held in snug engagement with the edges II. Attention is directed to the fact that the channel portions l8 have substantial width so as to engage the edges l I for a sufficient distance to hold the tray against rocking.

It is also to be noted that the channel portions l8 are slightly inclined to thereby hold the tray at a slight downward and forward pitch as indicated at [9 in Figure 1.

Ordinarily one heck member I! on each extremity i6 is sufficient but for greater rigidity the end portions of the band may be extended as shown in Figure 3 and two hook members mounted on each.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention greatly simplifies the attachment of drip trays to flush toilets and by enabling quick and ready removal of the tray the matter of keeping the tray clean presents no problem, for if it is desired to remove the tray it is only necessary to draw the end portions of the spring band together. This allows the tray to be slid or pulled forwardly or entirely disengaged from the hook members I'I.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. For use with a flush toilet having a water tank from the bottom of which supply and discharge pipes extend: a tray of a size to fit beneath the water tank and to collect condensate dripping therefrom, said tray having open throats extending in from the back edge thereof to accommodate the supply and discharge pipes and enable the tray to be placed in position by rearward substantially horizontal edgewise motion; a spring band having a loop adapted to embrace a vertical portion of one of said pipes and having resilient .rearwardly extending end portions adapted to be drawn together to tighten the loop about the pipe; and arms extending upwardly from said end portions and having horizontal outwardly opening channel-like hook portions at their upper free ends engageable with the side edges of the throat in the tray accommodating the vertical portion of the pipe which is embraced bygthe loop-of the spring band, the normal free position ofv said resilient end portions yieldingly holding said hook portions spaced apart a'distance greater than the space between the side edges ofsaid throat of the tray so that engagement thereof with the side edges of the throat draws the resilient end portions together to simultaneously tighten the loop of the band about the vertical portion of the pipe and secure said hooklike connecting means on the edges of the throat.

2. As an article of manufacture, a supporting bracket for holdin a drip tray in position under the water tank of a flush toilet, comprising: a substantially U shaped spring band, the closed end of which forms a loop adapted to embrace a vertical portion of the discharge pipe projecting down from the bottom of the water tank, and the ends of which form opposing outwardly diverging arms yieldingly biased to a spread apart position; and opposed hook-like members extending vertically in one direction from said arms and having outwardly opening horizontal channels at their outer extremities adapted for interengagement with portions of the tray upon drawing the arms toward one another and to be held in such interengagement therewith by the tendency of the arms to maintain a spread apart position, the loop formed by the closed end of the band being of a size such that it is tightened about the discharge pipe when the arms are drawn toward one another for connection to the tray.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the fact that the outwardly openin horizontal channels are slightly inclined downwardly towards the loop so as to give the tray a downward and forward pitch.

VIRGI L E. LAUFENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 869,256 McCormick Oct. 29, 1907 1,210,701 Ryden Jan. 2, .1917 2,156,174 Braatz Apr. 25, 1939 2,180,902 Herodes et al. Nov. 21, 1939 

